Transfer truck



R. N. RIBLET TRANSFER TRUCK Nov. 8, 1932.

Filed Feb. 29, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet entor Attorney Nov. 8, 1932. R. N.RxBLET 1,886,588

TRANSFER TRUCK Filed Feb. 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LET I nvenorlAltormfey R. N. RIBLET TRANSFER TRUCK Nov. 8, 1932.

Filed Feb. 29, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 R. N. RIBLET TRANSFER TRUCK Nov. 8,1932.

Filed Feb. 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,Unna/ /ef/ ET Inventor AllorneyPatented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATS ROYAL N. RIBLET, F SPOKANE,VASHINGTON TRANSFER TRUCK Application filed February 29, 1932. SerialNo. 595,873.

My present invention relates to improvements in transfer' trucks orconveyers, adapted especially for use in handling automobiles orautomatic vehicles as they are being received into, and discharged from,a storage garage or other space adapted to accommodate a number of suchvehicles. y

The transfer truck of my invention is of the wheeled type, traveling onspaced rails,

io or a track, and propelled by suitable power, between two rows ofstalls or storage spaces, as in a garage, and the truck is equipped withmechanism, operating transversely of the truck rails whereby theautomobile may be either pushed from the truck to its storage space, orpulled o'n the truck from its storage space, at either side of thetruck.

An electric motor is mounted on the truck to furnish the power tooperate the push-pull mechanism, or transfer mechanism, and suitablecontrol devices or levers are mounted on the truck, readily accessibleto an operator who rides on the truck, for operation and control of thetransfer or push-pull mechanism.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofparts, whereby the automobiles may be handled with convenience anddispatch when going into, or out of storage, as will hereinafter be morefully set fort Y In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated onecomplete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, wherein theparts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thusfar devised for the practical application of the principles of myinvention, but it will be understood that various changes andalterations may be 4.1i: made in the exemplifying structure withoutdeparting from the principles of my invention.

Figure l is a vertical sectional detail view showing a part of theflooring of a garage, or storage space for automobiles, a portion of thetransfer truck embodied in my invention, and also showing, by dottedlines, a stored automobile, ready to be pulled from its storage space tothe transfer truck.

.1.- Figure 2 is a sectional detail view showing the pit for thedepressed railway tracks of the conveyer system for the storage oflautomobiles, and showing one of the transfer trucks on the railwaytracks.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a transfer "55 truck having duplexpush-pull apparatus for an automobile, with one of the duplex devicesextended to active position, and the other retracted to inactiveposition.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view at line 60 `4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view at line 5 5 of Figure 3. y

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing one of the duplex push-pulldevices in extended, active position. y 1

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, with the push-,pull device ininactive position. 1

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of one 70 of the automatic tripsfor a push-pull device.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the actuating or rock-shafts ofthe trips. Y

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the cable arrangement for theduplex, pushpull device.

In order that the utility, the general arrangement, and the relation ofparts, may readily be understood, I have shown in Figures 1,2, and 3, apit P in the ioor of a garage or storage space, having depressed railwayrails R, R, spaced apart for the transfer truck T to roll over. Theautomobile A is to be withdrawn from its storage space S, as indicatedin Figure 1, and transferred to the truck T. The storage spacespreferably have an incline I in the floor, which incline terminates atthe bumper B, and when an automobile is discharged from the truck T toits space S the forward pair ofwheels of the automobile run down theincline to properly locate the automobile, and also to preventaccidental coasting of the automobile from its storing space S. y

The transfer trucks T may be used as a train of trucks for conveyingautomobiles` to and from storing spaces, or the truck T may be usedsingly, andwhile I have not illustrated any means for propelling thetransfer truck or'trucks, it will be understood that 100 suitable meansare provided for this purpose.

The automobile A may be pulled from the left, as in Figure 1 to thetransfer truck', or it may be pulled from the right side of thc pit ontoa truck, when the automobile is to be withdrawn from storage, fordelivery. When the automobile is received at the storage place, it maybe driven directly onto the transfer truck, the truck conveys theautomobile to a suitable storage space S, at either side of the pit P,and then the automobile is pushed from the truck into its space S, theforward wheels rolling d'own the incline I, and the movement of theautomobile is stopped by Contact of the forward wheels with the bumperB.

Thus the truck T may be propelled in suitable manner, with its wheels 1rolling on the track or rails R, to the desired location and theautomobilecarriedby the-truck may then be pushed to a selected side ofthe truck, or

.when the automobile is to be discharged from storage, it is pulled ontothe truck, from either side of the truck, and .then Vconveyed to theexit of the storage building or garage..

In Figures 2 and 3 the depressed railway system for the truck is shownas provi-ded with :centrally 'located between the rails AR and disposedparallel therewith.

0n `the top of the truck T, I arrange two spaced, parallel plates 5, 5,'having at their outer sides Lor ,edges guide flangest, which plates formtheJ tracks or ways for the four Y wheels of the automobile.. The waysare of suitable width toaccommodate the .tires of Between these twoflanged plates -or ways 5, l5, aV third, channel plate 7, is secured onthe top ofthe truck, and provided with side flanges y8, 8, that areinturned as shown, the channel plateor' guide being located centrallybetween the two track plates or ways 5 5. y Y

Vithin the guide or channel plate a slide plate9 is adapted toreciprocate longitudigrooves for the edges of theplate to preventlateral movementof the slide plate; This slide plate is the operatingmember of the duplex, pi1slipull device forthe automobile,

Ywheels, or tires, of the automobil-e, and these pushepull rollers mayengage the tires at the rear of the wheels `when the automobile is to bepulled onto the'truck, or the push-pull rollers may engage the fronts ofthe 'tires of the automobile wheels when the automobile is tobe pushedolf of the truck, ateither side vof the truck. K Thetraction rollers 13,1S.,

and '15, 15, are larger'in diameter 4than the push-pull rollers, and,Idue tothe fact that the push-pull rollers engage =the treadof the tirebelow the axis or vournal 'ofy the wheel of the automobile,:1s-indicated inFignre 1, these traction rollers 13, 13,' or 15, 15,roll on the floorof the,A garage, andare thus sta` bilized in theirvmovement and .also form roll ing supports for the pusl 1pull rollers.

As the automobile is pushed or pulled, the

push-pull rollers in f rictional engagement f with the treads of thewheels W, roll on the treads ofthe revolving wheels .`W thus providing asmooth andfeasy transmission of power with slight friction, and it willalso be apparent that no part of the automobile is marred or scratchedin the pushing or pulling operation-afer the reason that the operatingydevice contact-s only with thetreads of the wheel-tires. f

The axles 16, and their rollers 12, 13., 14,

1.5lo0sely journaled on the axles,-are mounted lon the-cross heads atthe opposite -ends of Ythe slide plateV or operatingl member 9,

throughjthe use of upright flangesvlfr' on the lever "plates 17' and 18.v One of these lever plates is pivoted at 20gat each end of veach crosshead, and the complementary pivoted plates mounted on each cross headare connected by a cross v'rod or connectingrod 21 pivotally connectedat itsends to the lever plates.

This mounting of the push-pull rollers and traction rollers at'theopposite ends of the slide plate 9 permits theY pair ofpushpull rollersat keach end of the slide plate to he turned to valined position,transversely of the slide plate as in Figure 6, or permits the samelpairof rollers to be turned to par-- allel position and parallel wit-h `thelongituk, 4dinal axisof the slide plate as in Figure 7. hally, theinturned flanges 8, 8, forming guide Y Thus, in the inactive position of-Figure 7 the push-pull rollers may be projected under therear end ofthe automobile between its rear wheels W, and, after the push-pull rollers have passedthe front of the rear wheels W, the push-pull rollers maybe extended to active position of Figure 6 to engage the treads of thewheels W as in Figure 1. In this posit-ion the rollers 12, 12 areadapted to pull the automobile A onto the truck T.

After the automobile has been pulled onto the truck, the rollers l2, 12may be turned from alined position to parallel position, and thus bewithdrawn from under the rear end of the automobile. After the truck hasconveyed theautomobile to a desired discharffe point, these same rollers12, 12 may be again turned to alined position, and then projectedagainst the rear treads of the wheels lV, whereupon the slide plate isprojected to push the automobile from the truck. Thus it will beapparent that the slide plate or operating member 9 is adapted to bereciprocated laterally of the truck and transversely of the rails R, Rfor alternate use of the duplex push-pull devices, and that both of thedevices are adapted to push an automobile from the truck, or pull anautomobile onto the truck, all of which operations are under control ofan operator standing on the control platform C, as shown in Figures 2`and 3.

The pairs of lever plates 18 and 19, forming the mounts for tie rollersat the opposite ends of the slide 9, are o eratcd through the if)instrumentality of the respective links 22 and 23, and these linlfs areconnected to adjacent cross heads by springs The outer end of each linkis pivoted to a lever-plate, as 18, and the inner end of each link isconnected to or pivoted on a rotary disk as 25 and 26, located atopposite sides of the approximate cent-er of the slide, and pivoted onthe top of the slide at 27. Each disk is del signed to, have a rotarymovement on its pivot that is limited by the co-action of abutment 28 onthe periphery of the disk and a pin 29 mounted on the top face of theslide in the path of movement of the abutment, and each disk isfashioned with a pair of diametrically arranged arms 30 anc 31 whichoperato as trip arms by means of which the disksy are turned. As will beapparent the turning of the disks in alternate directions is for thepurpose of swinging the push-pull rollers from active position of Figureto inactive position of Figure 7, and vice versa.

A clockwise turn of the disk in Figure 6 swings the push-pull rollers toinactive position, and an anti-clockwise turn of the disk in Figure 8causes the inactive rollers of Figure 7 to swing to active position.

The disks are thus adapted to be turned in alternately oppositedirections, through the alternate co-action of the two lover arms and 31as the latter arms are moved with-the slide laterally of the truck.

The means for controlling the operatori, or swinging movement, of thepushepull rollers to active positionand inactive position,

`bring the rollers to includes a pair of rock shafts 32 and 33; a pairofhand levers 34 and 35 pivoted at 86 in suitable bearings on thecontrol platform C and readily accessible to the operator of the truck;and links 37 that are pivotally connected to the manual levers 34 and35, and to the crank arms 38, one of which arms is rigid with each shaft32 and 33.

These rock shafts 32 and 33 are journaled in bearings 39 on the top ofthe truck, and the shafts are disposed at the sides of the center guideway 7 ofthe slide 9, the shafts as shown extending approximately thefull Width of the truck. Each rock shaft is provided with four fixed,radially extending pins 40, 41, 42, and 43 forming detents, eight innumber, capable of co-action with the two lever arms 30, 31 ofthe tivorotary disks 25, 26. By means of the manual levers 34 and 35 the rockshafts may be turned to bring these detents from horizontal position tovertical or upright position, and when in the latter position a detentco-act with a lever arm ofthe rotary disks.

Thus, in Figure 6, with the rollers 12, 12 in active position to pullthe automobile A of Figure 1 onto the truck T, after the slide9 haspulled the automobile onto the truck, it becomes necessary to swing therollers 12, 12,

inactive position in order that the automobile may be driven, or rolled,off of the truck. This swinging of the rollers 12,12, to inactiveposition is accomplished as the slide9 moves to the right in Figurev 6and when the lever arm 31 contacts with one of the upright pins, as 42on the rock shaft 32, which shaft has previously been rocked to bringthe pins to upright position by manipulation of the manual lever 34.l/Vhen the lever arm 31 strikes the pin 42 the rotary disk 25 ispartially turned, thereby projecting the link=22 to the left in Figurev6, thus causing the two rollerniounts 18 and 19 to swing on theirpivots, and

inactive position of Figure 7.

A A sutlicient number of pins or detents are employed on each vrockshaft, and the detente are properly spaced apart on the shafts, toco-act atv the proper time: with one of the four lever arms of therotary disks, for the purpose of trip-ping the roller-swingingmechanisms for alternate movement at the ends of the slide 9, to bringthe rollers alternately to active and inactive positions.

An electric motor 44 forms the prime mover for the reciprocatingmovement of the slide 9, and a control box 45 and control lever 46 areshown in position for ready access by the operator who may thus controlthe motor 44 for forward drive, or for reverse drive, depending on thedesired direction in which the slide 9 is to be moved.

Suitable transmission mechanism, as a worn-drive 47, transmits powerfrom the 1notor to an operating shaft 48 that is journaled in suitablebearings on the truck beneath the tracks 5, 5,V and the guide-way 7,"and this shaft, as shown is arranged parallel with the rails R, R, ortransversely of the tracks 5, 5.

On the shaft, and adapted to revolve therewith, are mounted two drums 49and 50, and four cables 5l, 52, 53, and 54, each have an end attached toa drum. The cables 51 and 54 have their inner ends attached to the drum49 and they are coiled on the drum so that one cable is wound while theother cable is uniwound; while the cables 52 and 53 have their innerends secured to the drum in such manner that one'cable is wound as theother .cable is unwound, and vice versa.

f Each cablepasses from its drum around a guide pulley 55 journaled inbearings on the underside of the truck, and thence from this `pulley thecable returns, across and to the the pair of cables 53 and 54 will bewo-und on the respective drums 50 and 49, to pull the slidev to theleft, and at the same time the cables 5l and 52 are unwound from thedrums 49 and 50 to permit this movement. lVhen the rotary movement ofthe shaft 48 is reversed, through a reverse drive from the motor 44, andthe drums Vrevolve anti-clockwise, the unwound cables are wound on thedrums and the wound cables are unwoimd from the drums as the slide Aismoved to the right in Figure 10. Y

lVitha skillful operator standing onethe control platform C, he may withdexterity manipulate. the control lever of the electric motor, andthetwo manual control levers 34 and 35, at the proper times, to insure asmooth operation of the slide and of the push-pull rollers for easy andquick handling ofthe automobile whether the latterV is being stored inits space S or being withdrawn therefrom for use, and it will of coursebe understood that the truck is'moved along on its tracks -or rails R,R, to convey successive cars or automobiles into and out of the garage.Y

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. A vehicle-transfer apparatuscomprising guiding means and a reciprocable member combined with saidmea-ns, means for operating said member, propelling means pivotallymounted on said member'for engagement with the vehicle, Vand mechanicalactuating means responsive to the movementof said member for pivotallymoving the propelling means alternatelyto active position and toinactive position. Y

' 2. The combination with a vehicle-conveyer, of a reciprocable membermounted thereon and operating means for said member, propelling meanspivotally mounted on said member for engagement with a vehicle, andmechanical actuating means responsive to the movement of said member forpivotally moving the propelling means alternately to active and inactiveposition.

, 3. The combination ,with a vehicle-conveyer, of an actuating membermovable thereon and means for moving said member, propelling meanspivotally mounted on the actuating member, and mechanical actuatingmeans responsive to the movement of said member for pivotallytranslating the propelling means from inactive position to activeposi'tiom 4. A vehicle-transfer apparatus comprising a movable actuatingmember and operating means therefor, propelling means pivotally mountedon said actuating member, and mechanical actua-ting means responsive tothe movement of said member for pivotally translating the propellingmeans from'in'- active position to active position.

5. The combination with a wheeled-truck of the railway type and a guidethereon, of a reciprocable member and operating means therefor,duplexpropelling means pivotally mounted on said member, and mechanicalactuating means responsive to the movement Vof said member for pivotallytranslating one of said duplex propelling means from inactive positionto active position.

6. The combination with a vehicle conveyer having a guide mountedthereon, of a reciprocable slide in said guide and means on the conveyerfor operating the slide,duplex, retractible propelling means mounted onthe opposite ends of said slide, andselectable means responsive to themovementl of the slide 'for translating said propelling means fromretracted to active position. Y

`7. In a vehicle-propelling apparatus, the 'combination with areciprocable slide and operating means therefor, of a pair ofrollermounts pivoted on said slide anda connecting rod between saidmounts, propelling-rollers journaled on said mounts, and meansresponsive to the movement of the slide for pivotally translating saidrollers and mounts from inactive position to active position.

8. In a vehicle-propelling apparatus, the combination with areciprocable slide and operating meanstherefor, of a pair of adjustableroller-mounts pivotally supported on the slide and a connecting rodbetween said mounts, propelling-rollers journaled on said mounts, andmeans for pivotally adjusting said roller-mounts from inactive positionto active position. v. l

9. In a vehicle propelling apparatus, the

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combination with a reciprocable slide and operating means therefor, of apair of pivoted roller-mounts and an operative connection therebetween,a propelling roller and a traction roller journaled on each mount, andmeans for moving said mounts to swing the propelling rollers frominactive position to active position.

10. In a vehicle propelling apparatus, the combination with areciprocable slide and operating means therefor, of a pair of rollermounts pivoted on said slide and a connecting rod therebetween,propelling rollers journaled on said mounts, and means responsive to themovement of the slide for pivotally moving said roller-mounts frominactive position to active position.

l1. In a vehicle propelling apparatus, the combination with areciprocable slide, operating means for the slide, and retractiblepropelling means mounted on the slide, of means mounted on the slide formoving the propelling means from retracted position to active position,and means in the path of movement of the means for moving the propellingmeans for actuating the latter.

12. In a vehicle propelling apparatus, the combina-tion with areciprocable slide, operating means for the slide, and retractiblepropelling means mounted on the slide, of control means mounted on theslide and connected with the propelling means, and means in the path ofmovement of the control means for actuating the latter means.

13. In a vehicle propelling apparatus, the combination with areciprocable slide, operating means for the slide, and retractiblepropelling means mounted on the slide, of a pivoted control membermounted on the slide and connected with the propelling means, a leverarm on the control member, and a stationary detent in the path of saidarm for actuating the control member.

14. In a vehicle propelling apparatus, the combination with areciprocable slide, of a shaft and operating means therefor, a drummounted on the shaft, a pair of cables adapted to Wind in oppositedirections on said drum, a guide pulley for each cable for directing acable across the drum, and said cables `having their opposite, outerends connected to the ends of the slide.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROYAL N. RIBLET.

